Elf on the Shelf

This year I was almost giddy about doing Elf on the Shelf for Cole. I just knew he would really get it and enjoy finding the elf every morning. I went in search of fun ideas of how to introduce the Elf and came across some wonderful ideas on Pinterest. So I decided to make it an Elf breakfast and introduce our Elf Buddy to Cole. I explained that Buddy had brought snow covered donuts and hot chocolate with extra marshmallows for us to enjoy why we learned why Buddy was here and that he had come from the Northpole. Let's just say Cole was crazy excited...I'm mean all this sweet stuff for breakfast who wouldn't be!

 

Buddy also brought a gift from Santa ... a McQueen Ornament!

 

It's just another great tradition I'm excited to begin with Cole this Christmas season. One that's both fun for him and us. So now I just need to make sure Buddy is in a new place every morning. Sounds easy enough but I have already nearly forgotten twice in the first week. My expectations are low I will make it to Christmas.  

Color Cubes

With Summer quickly approaching and the warm weather that seems to have been around since umm March. I figured it was about time to try out some of the fun water activities I have seen on Pinterest. Color Cubes. Yep super easy just put a little food coloring into your ice cube tray add some water of course and wait for it freeze. I filled a few larger tuber wear bowls with water and then left the rest up to Cole.

 

He started by separating the colors into different bowls but by the end he had mixed up all the colors. Which left a lot of green water. I’m a novice when it comes to dealing with food coloring. It got a little messy. But that was the best part.

 

 

 Once the cubes had melted I told him he could bring the water over to his water table and play with the green water. He’s eyes just lit up and he proclaimed “I’m Strong” and took each bowl over. Some made it to the table some didn't but he loved every second of it.

 

 

 And I’m happy to report that after his bath that night all traces of food coloring had disappeared from his hands. Will definitely be doing this one again this summer with more colors !

 

Pinterest made me do it!

These days I can’t seem to get off of Pinterest…I know I’m not alone here…but really I’m obsessed. From looking at pillows, to lighting, to bathroom vanities, to DIY crafts I can’t get enough! There are also some Amazing recipes you can find on there. But to be honest with you all my food pins have been just that. Pins. I have never actually tried to make even one of the recipes that sit on my “Food I Wanna Make” board.
I’m not a cook. Most dinners in the Shinaberry house are made by Hubs. He enjoys to cook so why would I stand in his way?!? But last night I decided to finally make one of those recipes I found on Pinterest.

 Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken with Fried Rice.

Here’s what you will need;

Chicken
3 boneless chicken breasts
1 cup of cornstarch
Salt and pepper
2 eggs, beaten
¼ cup of Peanut Oil

Sweet and Sour Sauce
3/4 cup of sugar
4tbs ketchup
1 tsp of garlic salt ( I used a pinch of salt and some garlic powder because that’s all I had)
1 tbs of soy sauce
½ cup of vinegar

Cut the chicken breasts into cubes then sprinkle it with some salt and pepper. Dip the cubes into the cornstarch than dip into the egg mixture. Heat the Peanut Oil in a large skillet and cook your chicken until gets a little brown but is not cooked all way. Place all the chicken into a greased 9x13 baking pan. Then mix all the ingredients for the sweet and sour sauce in a bowl, make sure to use a whisk so it’s mixed up real good. Then distribute evenly over the all the chicken. Bake for an hour at 325 flipping the chicken every 15 mins. It was that easy!!!

Didn’t do anything fancy with the rice, used some white rice, onions, soy sauce, peas and an egg.

It was soooooo yummy! Hub’s who loves Chinese food couldn’t get enough of it. He even said it was better than takeout...I’ll take that as a compliment. So now that I know I can cook one good meal I’m starting to think I should make this try a new recipe a weekly thing.Ha.Who I’m a kidding maybe a monthly thing…